FIM FLAT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 PREVIEW - PARDUBICE

Image courtesy of Michal Prouza

VRX Dirt Store Ducati Race Team hold a one-two position heading into the final European round of the FIM Flat Track World Championship in Pardubice this weekend.

The series makes its regular visit to the Czech Republic with racing taking place on Saturday afternoon as part of the iconic Golden Helmet weekend. Pardubice stages the fourth and deciding round of the Speedway Euro Championship on Friday evening followed by the Flat Track on Saturday (2pm CET), the junior Golden Ribbon at 4.30pm and then the Golden Helmet on Sunday at midday.

The Flat Track series is at a crucial stage with three rounds remaining, with Ducati’s Tim Neave leading the standings on 147 points, whilst team-mate Ashton Boughen is in a share of second place with fellow British rider Jack Bell (Triumph) on 134 apiece.

Neave won two rounds in mid-season at Teterow and Donji Kraljevic and has been consistent throughout, never finishing lower than fifth in any event.

Boughen enjoyed a sensational introduction to the series with wins in the opening two rounds at Roden and Terenzano, and after a blip at King’s Lynn in August he blasted back into contention by winning last time out in Vasad. That Final turned into an exclusive Ducati affair with the two riders fighting out a thrilling battle before Boughen came through on the last lap.

But they are unlikely to have things all their own way this time around, with Ervin Krajcovic and Gerard Bailo the two riders desperate to make up ground as both have 117 points. Defending Champion Krajcovic will be a man to watch in particular, as he has won at Pardubice in the last two years, including clinching the title at the venue in 2025.

Krajcovic headed up a KTM one-two alongside team-mate Ondrej Svedik last season, and with 100 points at this stage the meeting represents arguably Svedik’s final chance to move back into overall medal contention.

Pardubice is one of the biggest conventional Speedway tracks on the roster, coming in at 391 metres, but with Ducati having excelled on all kinds of circuits this season, they travel with plenty of optimism. Saturday’s meeting will be live streamed free on FIM-Moto.TV starting at 1pm BST, 2pm CET, with the series then concluding with a double date in Argentina at Totoras on October 24/25.